6.5mm-284 Savage

I recently just bought a savage 6.5mm-284. I was trying to find the lands for a berger 140 vld, but when i put the casing with the loose bullet in the action and closed the bolt then pulled it out the bullet didn't move in at all. I know that the brass was loose enough for the bullet to move in and still tight enough so it would grab in the riflings and pull back out. Any pointers so I can figure out a good bullet length?

Are you using a split case or slightly oversized case so the bullet can be seated way out so as you close the bolt it jams into the lands and reseats the bullet? I just used my horndy case measuring gauage with the special made 6.5 case and berger bullet to measure this out. On my rifle COAL is 3.17 inches jamed into the lands. It is a 116 stainless flutted 24 inch barrel model. Dont know the exact model letters but this is my gun. I load mine at 3.125 which is giving me a .5 inch group at 100yrds and shoots very consistant at this length. It also still works in the mag. Hope this helps.

I have the exact same gun. Shooting Retumbo powder and 140 VLD hunting bergers in lapua brass. So far I haven't got it to shoot the way I want, but I haven't shot it too much yet. Let me know if you get her shooting good.

Mine is 3.192" to the lands(not jammed) with a Berger 140Hunting VLD and Lapua Brass. My best accuracy's at .072" off the lands, 3.12" COAL. I have found that the Hornady Lock and Load sweating depth tool gives very precise and consistent results for bullet seating depth. 56-58 gr of Retumbo, Fed215's, and will have a good starting point for an accurate load at 2950-3000 FPS.

I recently just bought a savage 6.5mm-284. I was trying to find the lands for a berger 140 vld, but when i put the casing with the loose bullet in the action and closed the bolt then pulled it out the bullet didn't move in at all. I know that the brass was loose enough for the bullet to move in and still tight enough so it would grab in the riflings and pull back out. Any pointers so I can figure out a good bullet length?

you need to ding the mouth of the case slightly so the bullet slips with just enough force to hold it in place when you extract
the case or buy an oal gage...

How far is the bullet seated in the neck of the case? If the bullet is just barely seated in the neck of the case and still not pushing the bullet into the case while closing the bolt then you have very long throat. Which is possible, but doubtful.

If you are going to use this method of finding OAL then make sure the case neck is sized, not open/loose, and try again. My guess, the bullet is being pulled back out of the case neck when you extract the cartridge.